My father is considering having LAPBAND surgery at King's Daughters hospital in Ashland, Ky. (I had mine in Georgetown, KY) Does anyone have any feedback on King's Daughters, or Dr. Tompkins and Dr. Wheeler????

I'm bumping this because it looks like this is where I'm going to have to have my surgery after all.

My primary Physician steered me away other local places and referred me to Dr. Wheeler due to his reputation (even though my doctors associated with another hospital) - its about an hour further then other options but I think it will be worth the driving. I have my final Educational class Tuesday and expect to be set for surgery (Insurance has said yes) late May or June.

I have been seeing Dr. Eric Smith that is in the same group as Tompkins and Wheeler.....I think he is absoluetly awesome and has spent a ton of time with me and answering all of my questions and addressing all of my concerns. I cannot say enough about his bedside manner and how great he has been. I just finished up w/ my pre-op class and see him next Tuesday for my final appt. and will be getting my surgery date then. I would highly recommend him.

If you want my opinion on Tompkins and Wheeler, and please keep in mind that it is just my opinion and I don't want to make anybody mad that may go to them...I can tell you why I didn't choose them...Tompkins is very arrogant and is not as personal or didn't take as much time in the beginning seminars and seemed disconnected or unapproachable when I very first went to the informational seminar. Dr. Wheeler is very rough in the operating room w/ his patients and this comes straight from a family member that works with him weekly in the O.R. and says he is not pleasant to work with. I have also heard from some of my friends who are their patients that they are not as easy to giving "fills" and that Dr. Smith was a lot easier to work with.

Hope this helps a little but I have had nothing but the best experience treating under Dr. Smith.

Good luck to your dad!